BHP also faces a fight

Qantas Airways is not the only company battling through wage negotiations with its unions.

BHP Billiton
has been hit with strikes in Queensland as workers at coalmines run by the BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance negotiate enterprise agreements.

The majority of workers recently rejected an offer including annual pay increases of 5 per cent for three years.

BHP Billiton is frustrated that it is now more difficult for it to reach agreements than in the past.

Workers at Toyota Australia, the largest car manufacturer, rejected an enterprise deal which would have given more than 3000 workers pay rises of 13 per cent over 42 months.

Although
Toll Holdings
struck a deal with unions this year that included annual pay rises of 4 per cent, the logistics group’s chief executive,
Paul Little
, has expressed anger at unions for trying to restrict its use of contractors.

Asciano
’s Patrick stevedore unit is trying to reach an agreement with the Maritime Union after a year of negotiations and a wave of strikes.

It has offered workers 4.75 per cent a year plus another 1 per cent if performance and safety targets are met.